We’ll meet you at Kerry Airport or Tralee train station and take you to your first guesthouse in Tralee. Tralee is a busy market town and the capital of County Kerry. Tralee has a lovely Georgian street called Denny Street where you can find the town’s main park and the beautiful rose garden. A highlight is a visit to the Kerry County Museum which tells the story of life in Kerry over the ages and on the Dingle peninsula. We think it’s a great way to start your walking trip as you learn about the history, geography and culture of the Dingle Way. As the largest town you will stay at, there are a number of good restaurants and some good traditional pubs. Tralee is also home to Siamsa Tire, Ireland’s national folk theatre, so lots to see and do before starting the Dingle Way tomorrow.

The Dingle Way starts beside the Kerry County Museum and so it is here that you begin your first steps. Leaving Tralee via the canal you soon come to  Blennerville Windmill. The windmill can be seen for miles around and it is where scores of Irish people emigrated from these shores for America during the famine period of the 18th century. We are now in Tralee Bay and your first sight of the Atlantic Ocean. The trail begins to ascend and for the next 10km uninterrupted views over the ocean can be enjoyed, as you cross three river valleys along the lower slopes of the Slieve Mish mountains. Eventually you depart the mountain and the trail becomes one of small tracks through tree covered farmland before crossing the River Finglas and arriving in the village of Camp. Camp is small but has a lovely old stone pub serving fine food and gorgeous views out over the Atlantic Ocean can be enjoyed too. Well done, your first day on the Dingle Way !

After returning to the Dingle Way, the trail begins to climb as it reaches close to Knockbrack mountain (266m). You are now crossing from the north to the south of the peninsula and views out across to the Atlantic to the Iveragh peninsula can be seen. Inch beach marks the perfect picnic spot and a drink can also be enjoyed at Sammy’s pub on the beach. Inch beach is over 5km long  (3 miles) and is a popular location in fine weather. Leaving Inch the trail ascends towards Knockafeehane (301m) and suddenly Annascaul village comes into view along with the high mountains of the peninsula’s central spine. Annascaul village has a number of pubs, most famously the South Pole Inn, formally run by Antarctic explorer Tom Crean and contains a small museum honouring his fascinating life. 

The first section of today’s walk offers fine views over Annascaul valley before turning south towards Minard Castle. This 16th century Fitzgerlad castle is situated with commanding views out over the Atlantic. Turning inland quiet county lanes take you to the small village of Lispole with its fine church and great views of the old Dingle railway. A small cafe offers the chance for a break here before setting off for more inland terrain. Old farm dwellings and agricultural land gives way as you cross the lower slopes of Maol Mor. The higher ground allows for sweeping vistas over the southern coast and the Atlantic beyond. Eventually Dingle town and its harbour come into view and excitement builds as we enter the liveliest town on the trail. This evening the best choice of restaurants, cafes, pubs and music can be enjoyed. If you are going to have a big night out, this is the place for it.

If last night was a late one do not worry. This morning we offer the option of a transfer to Ventry. This shortens today’s walk to 16km and takes out the initial road section from Dingle. From Ventry you have a beautiful 3km beach overlooked by the ever-present Eagle Mountain. Soon after the beach the trail offers the opportunity to visit the Pre-historic Celtic museum, a small but fascinating place showcasing a large collection of artefacts from the Jurassic, Stone & Bronze ages and Celtic & Viking eras too. It also includes the only genuine fossil Woolly Mammoth skeleton in Ireland. Moving on the trail now begins to ascend and one of the most dramatic sections of the Dingle Way begins. Follow the slopes of Mount Eagle with its sweeping Atlantic views south towards the Skellig and Valentia Islands which soon give way to the mush closer Blasket Islands. You have now reached the most westerly point in Europe. The seven Blasket Islands jutting out of the Wild Atlantic are a sight that will stay with you forever. You now descend towards Slea Head, and beautiful Coumenoole Beach is clearly in view. As luck with have it, a small cafe offers the chance to savour the magnificent panorama before embarking on the final 3km into Dunquin. Dinner is served at your guesthouse tonight and Kruggers pub, the most westerly pub in Europe offers the chance of a well-deserved drink.

Close by your guesthouse is the excellent Blasket Islands Museum and we recommend even just a short visit before setting off for the day. Today is long but there is virtually no ascent, and this will allow for good progress. Not long out of Dunquin, you come to the famous Louis Mulcahy pottery studios and a visit is well recommended. It also has a delightful cafe if you feel like a break. Across from the studio is Clogher beach, a beautiful horseshoe beach with fine clear sands. From Clogher, country roads take us to Dun an Oir, the site of a 1580 massacre between English and mainly Spanish & Italian soldiers who were supporting the local Desmond Rebelion. The site marks the start of Smerwick Harbour and for the next 7km the Dingle Way follows the coast and long sandy beaches. The local scenery is relaxed but all around are the high peaks of the Brandon Mountain Range as well as nearby Ceann Sibéal mountain, site of the recently filmed Star Wars movies. The beach brings us to the small but wonderfully situated village of Ballydavid. Both village pubs offer wonderful coastal views and a break here is recommended. From Ballydavid, a meandering cliff trail offers breath-taking Atlantic coastal views before moving inland along riverside trails and tracks to reach your guesthouse for tonight.

In contrast with yesterday, the first section of today is all about ascent. From sea level you ascend to 630m at the pass at Mastiompan before descending to the small village of Brandon on the other side. The views today are unparalleled and cover almost the entire western Dingle peninsula and then on the descent the views give way to the east and cover the entire coast as far as Tralee. The terrain today is open countryside but, on the descent, it gives way to a clear track for most of the way down the mountain. Today is the most challenging day on the trail and there is the option of a lower crossing if you prefer. Once off the mountain you reach the small village of Brandon where there is a great coastal pub and you can enjoy a fireside drink before embarking on the final few kilometres into Cloghane. A great day and a great sense of achievement.

From Cloghane you follow close to the coast for the first 7km until Fermoyle Beach. Fermoyle Beach is a wonderful 11km long beach that passes by the wetlands of the Natterjack Toad, Ireland’s only native toad. The Slieve Mish mountains are a delightful backdrop to the beach and in fine weather this section can be enjoyed barefoot in parts. The beach ends at Fahamore where there are two coastal pubs. Our driver can meet you there and bring you the short distance to Castlegregory Village a few minutes away. Castlegregory is a laid back spot popular with water sports enthusiasts with a number of nice places for dinner tonight.

Depending on your departure time, you have the option of one final section on the Dingle Way. This part of the Dingle Way between Fahamore back to Castlegregory is low lying and almost exclusively coastal offering views out onto the Maharee Islands. The Islands also known as the seven hogs contain remnants of an early Christian monastic settlement, said to have been founded by St. Senan in the 7th century AD. As you turn the headland southerly views back onto the peninsula dominate and a gentle mix of craggy shore and fine beach brings you back to Castlegregory. Our driver can meet you at your guesthouse and bring you onto Kerry Airport or Tralee train station.